Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) incidence statistics

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is not among the 20 most common cancers in the UK, accounting for 1% of all new cancer cases (2016).[1-4]

In females in the UK it is not among the 20 most common cancers (less than 1% of all new female cancer cases). In males in the UK, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is not among the 20 most common cancers (1% of all new male cancer cases).

37% of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cases in the UK are in females, and 63% are in males.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia incidence rates (European age-standardised (AS) rates ) for persons are significantly lower than the UK average in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and similar to the UK average in all other UK constituent countries.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (C91.1), Number of New Cases, Crude and European Age-Standardised (AS) Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 2016

95% LCL and 95% UCL are the 95% lower and upper confidence limits   around the AS Rate

For chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, there are few established risk factors therefore differences between countries largely reflect differences in diagnosis and data recording.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia incidence is strongly related to age, with the highest incidence rates being in older people. In the UK in 2013-2015, on average each year more than 4 in 10 (43%) of new cases were in people aged 75 and over.[1-4] 

Age-specific incidence rates rise steeply from around age 40-44. The highest rates are in the 90+ age group for males and females.

Incidence rates are significantly higher in males than females in a number of (mainly older) age groups. The gap is widest at age 30 to 34, when the age-specific incidence rate is 7.1 times higher in males than females.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (C91.1), Average Number of New Cases per Year and Age-Specific Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 2013-2015

95% LCL and 95% UCL are the 95% lower and upper confidence limits  around the AS Rate

For chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, like most cancer types, incidence increases with age. This largely reflects cell DNA damage accumulating over time. Damage can result from biological processes or from exposure to risk factors. A drop or plateau in incidence in the oldest age groups often indicates reduced diagnostic activity perhaps due to general ill health.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia European age-standardised (AS ) incidence rates for males and females combined increased by 18% in the UK between 1993-1995 and 2013-2015.[1-4] The increase was of a similar size in males and females.

For males, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia AS incidence rates in the UK increased by 13% between 1993-1995 and 2013-2015. For females, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia AS incidence rates in the UK increased by 15% between 1993-1995 and 2013-2015.

Over the last decade in the UK (between 2003-2005 and 2013-2015), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia AS incidence rates for males and females combined increased by 8%. In males AS incidence rates increased by 6%, and in females rates increased by 8%.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (C91.1), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, UK, 1993-2015

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia incidence rates have increased overall in some broad age groups in males and females combined in the UK since the early 1990s, but have remained stable in others.[1-4] Rates in 0-24s have remained stable, in 25-49s have increased by 32%, in 50-59s have increased by 22%, in 60-69s have increased by 25%, in 70-79s have increased by 22%, and in 80+s have remained stable.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (C91.1), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, By Age, UK, 1993-2015

For chronic lymphocytic leukaemia there are few established risk factors, therefore increasing incidence in the 1980s and 1990s may largely reflect improvements in diagnosis and data recording.

There is no evidence for an association between chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) incidence and deprivation for either males or females in England.[1] England-wide data for 2006-2010 show European age-standardised  incidence rates are similar for both males and females living in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived.[1]

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (C91.1), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates by Deprivation Quintile, England, 2006-2010

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The estimated deprivation gradient in CLL incidence between people living in the most and least deprived areas in England has not changed in the period 1996-2010.[1]

An estimated 20,200 people who had been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) between 1991 and 2010 were alive in the UK at the end of 2010.[1]